How To Increase Your Energy Levels
[ 2 April 2008 ]
What can you do when you feel like an extra from Night of the Living Dead?
Have a coffee or energy drink
Now, obviously this is a short-term solution (as evidenced by the next tip!), because caffeine gives you a boost that doesn’t last — but if you have things you need to do & you feel like the walking dead, drinking a cup of coffee or your favourite bizarrely-flavoured energy drink could give you just the boost you need to finish things off.
Give up caffeine!
If you don’t know already, caffeine is bad for you. It dehydrates you, places unnecessary stress on your heart, raises your blood sugar, gives you crappy skin, bad breath, & causes a dependency. How many people do you know who just can’t function without coffee in the morning? Trust me, this is not the natural way of things! Humans have the inbuilt ability to be supremely productive without the aid of caffeine — shocking but true! Remember that coffee isn’t the only source of caffeine. There are also significant amounts of it in Mountain Dew, tea, Pepsi, Coke & chocolate — so if you can decrease your intake of those things, you’ll wake up feeling much better in the morning as well as being more productive & healthy overall.
Drink lots of water
When I guzzle water like mad, it works wonders on my brain. Most people are severely dehydrated; that’s a fact. When you’re at Burning Man (a fabulous festival in the middle of the Nevada desert), it’s really important to drink a lot of water. Gallons a day. When you go there the first time, they tell you that if you should never feel thirsty. You should be drinking enough water that you feel hydrated at all times, & if you leave it long enough that you feel thirsty, then you need liquids immediately. I kind of think that people in day-to-day life should incorporate this thinking too. I can tell you that when I drink water all day, I feel amazing & have energy to rival… I don’t know, someone energetic! I don’t drink to the point where I feel bloated, but I keep a huge glass next to my computer & I refill it multiple times a day. I drink from the glass whenever I think about it. You should give it a try — it will really amaze you.
Try a supplement like MSM or maca powder
There are a lot of weird so-called superfoods & life-changing supplements, but I tend to take the marketing hype with a grain of salt. Some things are good for you, sure, but some things you could go without & not notice the difference. However, two things that I have found are pretty incredible are the supplements MSM & maca powder. I can’t spout off the health benefits of either but I do know that they both increase my energy & add to a general sense of vitality & well-being. You can read about MSM on Give It To Me Raw & maca here. My suggestion is that you give them a trial period & get your own data points.
Take bee pollen
Bee pollen is often referred to as “Nature’s Multivitamin” because it is so nutrient-rich. Popping a couple of capsules is an excellent way to boost your energy levels. In fact, someone wrote an eHow article on it: How To Use Bee Pollen To Increase Energy!
Eat more raw vegetables & fruit
Eating a piece of fruit is the healthiest way to get an energy boost. Fruit has a low glycemic index, unlike candy, meaning the sugar is released into your system slowly. When you eat processed sugars, you get a sudden peak in your blood sugar & then a massive crash, which just makes you feel bad. Make a habit of buying your favourite fruit, whatever it might be — passionfruit, guava, pomegranate — & snack on that instead of chocolate-covered strawberry caramels with a gooey centre & five layers of nougat. You’ll feel better!
Get a good night’s sleep
It’s very hard to operate if you haven’t had enough sleep. We need good, uninterrupted sleep in order for our bodies to repair themselves. If you suffer from insomnia, use EFT to banish it for good. One thing I have always found useful in terms of getting restful sleep is wearing an eye-mask to block out any light. I’m not sure why it works, it just does — every time. You can make sleeping into a glamorous affair, too, by having an assortment of eye-masks for every mood! (I have a blue silk one, a Hello Kitty one, a plain black one, etc.)
Improve your posture
Your physiological & psychological states are linked. If you sit all hunched over, you’ll feel more depressed & closed-off than you do when you sit up straight with your chin high! (Try it if you don’t believe me!) Make an effort to stand & sit with a straight back & you’ll feel the difference.
Allow the sunrise to wake you, rather than an alarm clock
This won’t work if you’re wearing an eye-mask, but it’s much nicer & more pleasant to wake up with the sun. A lot of us sleep with our curtains closed & doors shut. If you can avoid this (but still maintain your privacy), having the sun creep through the windows & reach up to tickle your eyelids is definitely the best way to start the day.
Eat breakfast
You know this already I’m sure, but if you need further convincing, eating breakfast is associated with positive attitudes towards work, improved memory, attention & concentration, as well as better endurance & thinking skills. My favourite breakfast is a delicious smoothie (usually with some kind of chocolate flavour, either by way of raw cacao or chocolate soy ice-cream — it makes it seem like more of a yummy delight than a boring breakfast), but as long as you’re eating something with a relatively low GI, you should be okay. So eat up!
Exercise more often
There are so many reasons to get a regular dose of exercise, & one of them is increased energy. Put simply, it makes your body work better. Exercise doesn’t have to be boring; for example, you can get your cardio from walking quickly around the city & window-shopping! Take a tango or flying trapeze class & then tell me exercise is dull!
Change your attitude
Work on your happiness from the inside out. From here:
“Another cause of low energy levels has to do with attitudes. For example, the adrenals are involved in the ‘fight-or-flight response’. Adrenal hormones cause physiological changes appropriate for either a fight or actively running away from an overwhelming stress. If, however, a person is in a state of paralysis, apathy, extreme fear or ‘give-up’, the adrenal glands do not respond and energy is not available. Sometimes the feeling of paralysis or fear is not easy to detect…”
Practise gratitude
Being thankful & happy makes you feel better about life & gives you the motivation to keep going. Start taking part in Things I Love Thursday & you will feel the change!
Get some sunlight
When I used to work traditional jobs, I was often stuck in the middle of an office floor or in a shop in a mall where I saw absolutely no natural light. All that fluorescent nonsense gets to you after a while. One of the best things you can do to boost your energy during the working day is to go outside & eat your lunch in the sun. Listen to some upbeat music on your MP3 player, do a bit of drawing or writing, eat your food & appreciate the day. It’ll make you feel so much better when it’s time to go back inside. (Beware: Don’t lie down in the grass because it’ll just make you drowsy!)
Do breathing exercises
There are some excellent ones here.
Spend time with good people
Here’s an extremely simple way to work out if your friends are “good people” or not: when you walk away from an interaction with them, on the whole do you feel better or worse than before you saw them? If you feel happy & radiant, congratulations! Your friends are awesome & you should continue associating with them. On the other hand, if you walk away from them you feel depressed, stressed or anxious, they’re probably not as good for you as they could be. Negative people are a huge drain on our personal energy & happiness levels, so if your friends are drama queens or love nothing more than a good angst-fest, you might be better off without them.
Spend time alone
You don’t need to lock yourself in a cabin in the woods (unless you want to!), but spending at least 15 minutes alone every day is really good for you. It allows you time to recharge your mental & emotional battery. Life can be so hectic that we rush from home to work & back & never really get any time to ourselves. When I was working in the city, my bus-ride into town was often the best part of my day, because it meant I could think things through & relax.
Jump up & down
If you have something that needs your immediate attention, like some kind of project or essay, one of the easiest & fastest ways to boost your energy levels is to sneak out of your cubicle, go somewhere that you won’t be disturbed & jump up & down rapidly! You might feel like a nut, especially if someone sees you, but a short bout of intense physical activity will pump up your mood & get your brain going!
What are your favourite ways to increase energy?
Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala
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I think all of your points are valid and extremely helpful, but I wanted to comment that good posture really does help. It’s so bizarre, but whenever I notice that I’m slouching or looking down at the ground, I make an effort NOT to do it and, amazingly, I feel much more awake and revitalized. Such a simple thing, and yet so effective.
All your tips are great and useful! I’m trying to drink more water and I know it helps a lot. But I do drink tea every day…I know it has teine (whatever it calls, similar to caffeine), but I looove it, and better than coffee.
The only way to increse my energy is taking naps (even during class XD), even 5 minutes works…I have a real problem with sleep, I have to sleep A LOT to be alive, even during vacations! (I have lots of theories about my problem, main one being anemia, but it seems that I don’t have it). Eating breakfast is ESSENTIAL for having energies too! I usually eat plain oatmeal with milk and flaxseeds, and is awesome: I simply can’t live without breakfast, even if I’m late to university I eat it. Being positive of course helps, and also having stuff to do: when I have a examn I’m super energised!
Good tips :] I did want to point out that if you are unsure about a bee allergy – you should avoid bee pollen! My mum has a rather extreme bee allergy, so she is always careful when ordering green smoothies or any special ‘energy’ drinks while out & about.
I chuck on the ipod with my favourite rock band loaded and loud! This works a treat for that exhausted feeling of despair when it’s time to cook dinner . .
And PS: Awwww, pink-hair Gala! Cuuuuuuuuute.
I read somewhere that eating an apple can give you more energy than drinking a cup of coffee, and it lasts longer too. And it’s healthy and YUM!
I find that getting early makes me feel better too. I can hang out and relax and have a proper breakfast and get ready at my own pace, if I sleep in half the day I just feel sluggish all day, and worse in the afternoon because I have over slept. & If you sleep in way long you can’t get tired enough to go to sleepat a decent hour in the night, so you go to bed late and sleep in again, and get in a horrible cycle of going to bed late and sleeping in and MISSING OUT ON LIFE!!! don’t do that.
Wow, great timing. I was actually just researching on ways to boost energy levels, because my strange eating habits and cold have left me a little run-down.
One incredibly important thing that sends your energy (and mood) levels through the roof is laughing! Not only is it a form of light exercise, but I always feel like I could run a marathon after laughing my socks off.
:D
I’ve always found that thinking about having lots of energy really helps. Even if I think about (or read) the word energy I immediately feel better.
So I’m buzzing after reading this :)
Thanks for the tips! I have a ton of homework to do tonight, so I’ll be doing a lot jumping =]
p.s. That picture is mesmerizing
I absolutely love waking up with the sun! I actually have problems waking up if there’s no natural light. I recently stopped drinking soda and it definitely works: I feel more energetic throughout the day, and now soda is just nasty when I drink it :\
That is a fabulous article Gala! Very helpful. Thankyou.
When I need extra energy, I go for a walk and get out in the sun.
Have a good day Gala and everyone! Make it full of energy!
xx
OMG you are so right about the caffeine. I just decided to give up Coke because it just made me sick every time. I even fell asleep in class after drinking one yesterday, it was awful.
I can’t wake up with the sun because I have class BEFORE the sun comes up u_u. That is very sad for me.
I drink water like a camel in the desert and I just feel full of energy and very happy n_n.
Woo!! I’m already with you on the caffeine thing- my mom has always told me that caffeine is a poison. Plus the thought of being dependent on something just to wake up is pathetic to me. I’ve been trying to drink a lot of water lately and I’ve found that I just HAVE TO PEE LIKE CRAZY. It’s not so convenient when I’m in class but that’s okay…
I will definitely try the jumping up and down thing next time I’m in a crowded elevator, and announce to everyone that I’m just trying to get more ENERGIZED!! WHOOP WHOOP!!
OMG you are right on target. I cannot tolerate even decaf coffee so I decided to try something different. A dear friend of mine told me a lot about Maca and the benefits. She’s been using it for menopause, so I decided to give it a go. Now, Maca capsules are just fine for me. They give me a boost of energy and don’t affect my intolerance to certain supplements. Organic maca powder is also nice; however, the high carbs give me sooo much energy that drives me insane sometimes. I can’t but go to the gym to sweat it off. So might be too much sometimes even though I don’t abuse it. These is where I buy maca powder in capsules and this is for organic maca powder. Anyways, just my 2 cents.
Right before I go to bed, I turn off the lights and open the blinds/curtains. That way I get the morning sun!
Drinking lots of water is good for so many reasons. For example, after a party night, if I down 500mL of water right before I crash into bed, I never get a hangover….That’s just me, though.
Gala, I looove the pink-haired photo! How do you make your image so clean and in focus? I know if I took a similar shot in similar lighting, it might come out blurry. Do you use a particular lens or something?
For the past few years I’ve been having problems eating breakfast… Sometimes it’s due to running late and not having enough time to sit down but for the most part it’s because I just don’t like any breakfast foods and I can’t find good alternatives that don’t make me feel even more sluggish and sick. Why must everything contain so much milk and starch?! Anyway, if anyone can offer some advice, I would appreciate it. I really should eat more…
Also, I think dancing around madly listening to music that makes you really happy is very helpful if you have the time and (if needed) the privacy. You’re making your body happy and your brain is all excited from the music! Yee!
Your tips are good.
Especially the one of the sunlight,at school I do it every day,just sittin on the sun makes me feel with more energy and awaken for the classes of the day.
I would love to wake up with the sun on my face too,but I wake up too earlier,and the sun is rising while I am on the bath
.‘’I’m gonna use this to try to kick my sleeping patterns into order, I’ve been sleeping at about 4-5am and getting up at 12 and feelin zonked and the only thing you can do at that time in the morning is watch ted talks or scarface. Silly I know but I always regress on holidays for some reason :/ and it started exactly how amelia describes ^
Meg: I’m a breakfast nerd and I’ve tried almost everything you can think of, from kid’s cereals (YUK, sugar!!) from oatmeal, which is my favourite thing ever. But a good alternative for milk haters is just fruit! I’m currently eating a mix of berries and figs with plain yogurt and a mix of seeds (flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame and others), with a bit of honey. You could eat it without yogurt, of course :P Is a good alternative!
MUSIC – It has this amazing ability to reenergize me when I need motivation to do something that requires pep. Singing can sooth and awaken for me (even if I’m not great at it).
BEAUTY – When I am down and out and unengergised after a day of work (i usually don’t bother with getting dolled up for work because i have sleep issues and sleep in) just washing my face and doing my makeup and hair can give me new life. WHen I find the time to do this in the mornings I usually ahave better days maybe when I think I’m beautiful I sit up straight? I don’t know… L I just know it WORKS ... the more put together I am the better I feel, (in general) maybe because I took the time to care about me? Hmm really not sure why it just works for me :)
For me it’s fresh cool air but favorite music does it too.
I can’t touch caffine. It makes me crazy!
Luv
Poochie
Super article Gala!
I definitely agree about the drinking lots of water, they say if you thirsty that is already a sign that you are dehydrated.
Lyra – I never used to drink enough water, and once I started, I also had to go the bathroom almost every couple of hours, but slowly (give a couple of weeks to a month) my body adjusted and now its not so bad.
Another great way is to wake up early, have been trying to wake up by atleast 6, and exercise on somedays and a little bit of yoga on some days, you may feel tired for an hour after but the rest of the day will be great.
And have also been trying to eat a nice large serving of salad before eating one of the main meals of the morning! I feel alive.
And ofcourse music!
P.S Gala – any idea where I might be able to get bee pollen? I don’t think I have ever seen it at any of the shops. Unfortunately I live in Perth and it will probably be harder to get it here than in Melbourne
Gala, thank you for this article as I know that it will prove helpful for myself and others. There are waaay to many things to handle in the short hours of the day, which includes the sacrifice of the essential sleep—causing an energy drain the next day. There was a period were I constantly turned to caffeine to boost my energy… I disregarded the fact that it was bad for me, but it aided me in getting things done. My two favorite energy boosters are: *MUSIC – I blast my iPod and dance around to my favorite songs. I t
think I will have to try jumping around the next time. *EXERCISE- In addition to my goals to exercise a couple times during the week, exercising in the morning before taking a shower and heading out gives me an ample amount of energy to last me the entire day.
Breakfast is definitely a necessity for me. If I don’t get a meal before classes, I get cranky and scour for any food (healthy or not) that I can get my hands on. Also, sleep is something I really need, but sadly, lack. I will have to get a cute eye mask to help me get a good night’s rest and enjoy my soft bed sheets.
Again, thank you for this lovely article!
Best,
emily
P.S. I love the pink shade of your hair in the pics above.
Thanks for this post – SOO timely and helpful, seeing as I have chronic fatigue syndrome and am constantly fighting exhaustion!
I started taking bee pollen a few days ago, and haven’t noticed results yet, but that’s probably just because I’m starting very gradually with a small amount.
One thing that is supremely energizing for me is starting my day with a smoothie containing tons of spinach, apple juice, soy milk, strawberries, and banana. I make two glasses worth, slurp it all up, and get a major energy boost from the combo of fruit and spinach. A hollistic doctor I see swears by the importance of protein for energy, hence the soy milk…
Gosh this is timely!! Although I think a lot of my problems with my energy levels can be put down to not eating enough food at the moment, due to being distracted, busy, etc. Vicious circle :/
Also, I really, really, really want to try maca powder, but I don’t know where I would find it in Australia – where did you get yours, Gala?
Cheers!
Gala, I enjoyed reading this article as I love your hints and tips and the fact that you write from experience. But what I really want to say is, I love that photo of you with the sleeping mask! It was the first pic I ever saw of you when I came across you on one of Livejournal’s hair communities and found iCing that very day.
Hello, I’ve been around, I just never commented. Lol. I love your site by the way. And I agree with the negative people bit, I had to cut ties with a few people…They were way depressing… I think they enjoyed being in such a dark mood, it’s a bit scary when you think about it. I do still have friends who are drama queens, but it’s in a funny way…so it’s alright.
My fav way to get a boost of energy is to pace around and sing/say nonsense for a few seconds. I get some stares, but they can just stuff it because I feel better now!
Josie
off Topic But i have seen those pics of you some where else Gala. On a UK website www.hairdyegallery.co.uk/pinkp… their gallery!!! I was looking for more ideas for a hair colour when you popped up :D (hope you dont mind the link)
i know it’s a bit naughty, but i always find that a really quick nap perks my energy levels up a bit. i don’t always have time, and i suppose it may disrupt my sleep cycle, but a mid afternoon nap is cometimes just what the doctor ordered
WOW! All these tips are good and useful. Actually many people don’t know how to build up energy levels. I think these tips can help them.
I think it’s a good idea to have a checkup at the doctors if your energy levels are flagging. So many people are anaemic (myself included!) and have to take iron / zinc etc. It’s good to get that checked out before you start trying things like bee pollen when it might be something a little more serious.
I’m so going to try that spinach, apple juice, soy milk, strawb, bannana smoothie :D YUM!
Gala you divine all-seeing being, you always seem to post things at exactly the right time! I’ve just woke up and had less than 4 hours sleep and in need of some energy. hehe :)
This is ace, I suffer from something called ‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’ where every now and again I lose all my energy and just need to sleep! The doctor only recommended a couple of things for me to do to try and pick myself up again, but this gives me much more variety!!
Sunshine & Sparkles
xxxx
Hot tips! I have extremely low energy levels originally from my low iron levels and now who knows what! Excercise and water deffinantly good ideas i already know, its just so hard to stay properly hydrated i find, and exercise is something i need to get motivated into!! Timely reminder to get to it!
Recently I’ve been fighting my natural body clock in the morning. I want to sleep in, but my body wants to wake up super early. I’ve given up trying to fight it and now wake up when it feels natural. This makes me feel so much better all day long!
the best way to increase your energy levels: get up early!
(of course, go to bed at a reasonable hour if you do this)
another thing i like to do is go out & walk & talk with people (or just connect in some other way)...
sometimes when i cant do anything at all & am not in the mood for communication & need to work hard, i go out to buy coffee. when i come home (to the office) i pretend that im the boss & apologize for being so late for work & promise that i will get all the things done immediately.
playing games in your head is always nice & always works.
mmm. fruits & nuts & smoothies – i always get some kind of munchies after reading the comments at icing! :>
That bit about posture is so true! I always feel better when I’ve been sitting up straight – probably because I have horrific posture (hello 5 years of viola and 8 of violin). And ever since I discovered an Au Bon Pain near work, fruits, veggies and nuts at lunch have been abundant (if pricey, boo). Also lowering my caffiene has helped – I haven’t had soda in days and feel fantastic.
And I wanted to thank you for the “How to Wear a Scarf” article, since that’s been one of the big things on my mind lately. I have a bunch of scarves taht I just love, but I find it difficult to wear them since I’m never sure just how to tie them.
I second the drinking water thing. Today is day 3 of my new super-hydrated self and I feel awesome! I’m even beginning to crave water when I’m not super-thirsty…yey :D
a big glass of water, brushing my teeth, fresh air
I’m addicted to drinking Coke and I can’t give it up. I don’t like the taste of water either. I want to know if the nonpareils drink ordinary tap water or use a water filter?
stefnie in south africa:
When I am at my apartment, I drink tap water, even though it doesn’t taste the best, because I am poor, haha :)
I live in Michigan though and even tap water usually tastes fine. Otherwise I add lemon or lime juice to it if it tastes too bland or yucky.
When I am at my parents, my mom buys water and I try to do that when I have extra $$. We had a water filter, but she is really really picky and prefers to purchase it.
Poochie, you are absolutely right about the body adjusting to more water. I drink at least 12 cups a day (!) and used to have to pee ALL the time (not good in business meetings), it’s better now but there is one thing I am still puzzled about.
In spite of all the water I drink I still get thirsty, actually I feel like I have been thirstier since increasing my water intake! And my pee is almost totally clear (sorry, too much information) so I don’t see how I could possibly need more…this is very odd to me, anyone else encounter this?
I’ve been trying the sleeping mask thing – but sadly it doesn’t work for me. By the time morning hits, the sucker is already off my face :(
This is exactly what I needed right now, I recently discovered coffee [about the same time I discovered university!] and I’ve been trying not to get into drinking it on a regular basis, which one of my best friends has already done.
My grandma always told me not to drink coffee because once you start, you can’t do without it.
Btw – Jessica, it is probably clear because the water is going straight through you since you are so well-hydrated!
My mother had to drink a few litres of water before she had some medical procedure done a few years ago, and the told me that the doctor mentioned the fact that she must be well hydrated on a day to day basis, because her body had retained basically none of the water she had consumed that day.
A very insightful post on concentration exercises. Here’s a website that i thought i might share with you, which is very helpful on teaching you how to improve your concentration. It’s at www.attention-deficit-disorder.net. There are easy guides for you to follow too.
Thank you for writing this. This is something I will definitely use in the near future! I have made a resolution to drink tons of water this year, which I have been sticking to (to brag a little bit) and though it took a little while, I think my problem skin is starting to come around the bend – thanks to the water and a more diligent washing routine. Now to work in those fruits and veggies…
On a more shallow note, that sleep mask is adorable. Do you happen to remember where you picked it up?
i learned a fun technique for a quick energy burst in massage school, stimulating the kidney meridian~ starting down at your ankles slap your legs, the insides, all the way up, not to hurt yourself, but playfully rough! hips, and up your chest, up the sternum and then out along + below the clavicles … i like to bang on my chest like tarzan at this point… you can keep going up and down a few times if you’re enjoying this (and you likely will be, its fun and stimulating and makes you feel like reverberating all over inside)
thanks for the great suggestions. i employ many of these tools in my daily life. i can’t hear it too many times to drink more water- its so key and i never feel like i really get enough.
thank you, love
I cut out all refined sugar for about 8 weeks and my skin and energy levels had never been better. I lost all energy slumps during the day (i.e mid morning and around 3pm) and also lost anxiety and snappyness. I couldn’t believe how badly sugar was effecting my diet, so i would definitely suggest that if you find yourself eating a lot of sugary food.
Napping! Taking a quick fifteen or twenty minute nap always does wonders for my energy level. It gives my brain a quick reset.
give up caffeine, but have an energy drink?
alright then.
i guess i should cut down my sugar intake if it will increase my energy levels. i tend to eat a lot of lollies when i’m studying to help me concentrate. :S
I’m kinda confused.
“Have a coffee or energy drink”
followed with
“Give up caffeine”